Top 10 Prospects: #1 Matt Dumba

Matt Dumba

Defenseman

Shoots: Right

Height: 6'0". Weight: 183 lbs.

Born: July 25, 1994

2013-14 Team: Portland Winterhawks (WHL), Minnesota Wild (NHL)

Acquired: 1st round pick (7th overall) in 2012 NHL Entry Draft

Previous Rank: 4

Last season, Wild fans were given a very small glimpse of the talents of Matt Dumba.

Top 10 Prospects: #2 Darcy Kuemper

Darcy Kuemper

Goaltender

Catches: Left

Height: 6'5". Weight: 205 lbs.

Born: May 5, 1990

2013-14 Team: Iowa Wild (AHL), Minnesota Wild (NHL)

Acquired: 6th round pick (161st overall) in 2009 NHL Entry Draft

Previous Rank: 5

As noted back in June, no one player had more to do with turning the Wild's season around in January than Darcy Kuemper did. His 2.15 GAA and .932 save percentage in January was just what the Wild needed as they battled injuries to key players, and helped the team earn some much needed victories.

Top 10 Prospects: #3 Erik Haula

Erik Haula

Center

Shoots: Left

Height: 5'11". Weight: 192 lbs

Born: March 23, 1991

2013-14 Team: Iowa Wild (AHL), Minnesota Wild (NHL)

Acquired: 7th round pick (182nd overall) in 2009 NHL Entry Draft

Previous Rank: 6

"Haula does not seem like a fit to make the Wild roster this year". Those were the words written about Erik Haula on this site last year. Not only did he get a call-up to the Wild roster, he was one of their most important players down the stretch and in the postseason (this is the part where I eat my words from last year).

Top 10 Prospects: #4 Jason Zucker

Jason Zucker

Left Wing

Shoots: Left

Height: 5'11". Weight: 188 lbs

Born: January 16, 1992

2013-14 Team: Iowa Wild (AHL), Minnesota Wild (NHL)

Acquired: 2nd round pick (59th overall) in 2010 NHL Entry Draft

Previous Rank: 2

Entering the 2013-14 season, Jason Zucker was one of many young kids battling to make the Wild roster out of training camp. He struggled in camp, watched guys like Granlund/Coyle/Niederreiter thrive, then got injured to make matters worse. He was sent to Iowa to begin his season.

Top 10 Prospects: #5 Alex Tuch

Alex Tuch

Right Wing

Shoots: Right

Height: 6'4". Weight: 213 lbs.

Born: May 10, 1996

2013-14 Team: USA National Under-18 Team (USHL)

Acquired: 1st round pick (18th overall) in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft
Previous Rank: NR

In June's draft, Minnesota selected six foot, four inch forward Alex Tuch from the United States Development team. Tuch was projected to go by the middle of the first round, but fell to the Wild at #18. The Wild wasted no time in selecting the soon to be Boston College right wing.

Top 10 Prospects: #6 Gustav Olofsson

Gustav Olofsson

Defenseman

Shoots: Left

Height: 6'4". Weight: 191 lbs

Born: December 1, 1994

2013-14 Team: Colorado College (NCHC), Iowa Wild (AHL)

Acquired: 2nd round pick (46th overall) in 2013 NHL Entry Draft

Previous Rank: 10

When the Wild drafted Gustav Olofsson, he was relatively unknown among Wild fans. But after a season with Colorado College and the Iowa Wild, he is now very well known.

Top 10 Prospects: #7 Christian Folin

Christian Folin

Defenseman

Shoots: Right
Height: 6'3". Weight: 215 lbs
Born: February 9, 1991
2013-14 Team: UMass-Lowell (Hockey East), Minnesota Wild (NHL)
Acquired: Signed a two year contract on March 31, 2014
Previous Rank: NR

At the end of March, the Wild signed highly sought after college defenseman Christian Folin (pronounced Foe-lin) to a two year contract. The Wild edged out the likes of Philadelphia and Boston to land the UMass-Lowell defenseman. However after signing Folin, he only played in just one game for Minnesota to finish out the season.

Top 10 Prospects: #8 Mario Lucia

Mario Lucia

Left Wing

Shoots: Left
Height: 6'3". Weight: 195 lbs.
Born: August 25, 1993
2013-14 Team: Notre Dame (Hockey East)
Acquired: 2nd round pick (60th overall) in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft
Previous Rank: 9

It doesn't seem that long ago when the Wild were drafting Mario Lucia out of Wayzata High School. But after a season playing in British Columbia and two seasons with Notre Dame, one has to wonder if this will be Lucia's final season before making the jump to the AHL..

Top 10 Prospects: #9 Michael Keranen

Michael Keranen

Forward

Shoots: Left

Height: 6'1". Weight: 191 lbs.

Born: January 4, 1990
2013-14 Team: Ilves Tampere (SM-liiga)

Acquired: Signed a one year, two-way contract on June 5, 2014
Previous Rank: NR

On June 5th, the Wild signed Finnish forward Michael Keranen to a one year two-way contract for the 2014-15 season. Keranen has spent the previous four seasons (and one game of a fifth season) playing for Ilves Tampere in the Finnish Elite League (SM-liiga).

Top 10 Prospects: #10 Raphael Bussieres

Raphael Bussieres

Left Wing

Shoots: Left
Height: 6'2". Weight: 202 lbs.
Born: November 5, 1993
2013-14 Team: Iowa Wild (AHL)
Acquired: 2nd round pick (46th overall) in 2012 NHL Entry Draft
Previous Rank: 7

After a rough first season in the AHL, Raphael Bussieres should be a player to watch in Iowa this season.

Top 10 Prospects: The Honorable Mentions

Johan Gustafsson

Position: Goaltender. Catches: Left.

Height: 6'2". Weight: 199 lbs.

Born: February 28, 1992

2013-14 Team: Iowa Wild (AHL), Minnesota Wild (NHL)

Acquired: 6th round pick (159th overall) in 2010 NHL Entry Draft

Previous Rank: Honorable Mention

After posting outstanding numbers in his final two seasons in the Swedish Elite League, Gustafsson made his way over to North America to play in Iowa for the 2013-14 season. Gustafsson started the season behind Darcy Kuemper, but when Kuemper was called up to Minnesota Gustafsson became the number one starter for Iowa. 

Setting Up The Top Prospects List

Photo: Wild.com

Greetings and a Happy Labor Day to you all!

Wild Set To Kick Off Development Camp

Photo: Wild.com

Tomorrow, the Wild kick off their annual prospect Development Camp at Xcel Energy Center. During their time here, the players will take part in on ice and off ice drills, strength and conditioning drills, nutritional instruction, and a few fun activities (as previously seen in the Becoming Wild series).

Wild Prospects in the World Junior Championships

Photo: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Today, the 2014 World Junior Hockey Championships kick off in Malmo, Sweden. If you haven't seen already, Canada got off to a blazing start with a 7-2 pouncing over Germany.

Top 10 Prospects: #1 Mikael Granlund

Mikael Granlund

Forward

Born: February 26, 1992

Height: 5'10" Weight: 180 lbs

Shoots: Left

2012-13 Team: Houston (AHL)/Minnesota (NHL)

Acquired: 1st round pick (9th overall) in 2010 NHL Draft

Previous Rank: 1

Every year this blog has existed, Mikael Granlund has checked in at number one on the top prospects list (the blog was created in August 2011). Its all the blog has come to know from "Finnish Baby Jesus". But this will be the final year FBJ makes the list and takes home the top spot.

Top 10 Prospects: #2 Jason Zucker

Jason Zucker

Forward

Born: January 16, 1992

Height: 5'11" Weight: 185

Shoots: Left

2012-13 Team: Houston (AHL)/Minnesota (NHL)

Acquired: 2nd round pick (59th overall) in 2010 NHL Draft

Previous Rank: 4

Jason Zucker really had an up and down season with the Wild last year. He scored 19 goals with Houston before getting the call up from the Wild in mid February. Zucker scored three goals in his first five games with the Wild, and made a serious case to be on the team for the remainder of the year.

Top 10 Prospects: #3 Nino Niederreiter

Nino Niederreiter

Forward

Born: September 8, 1992

Height: 6'2" Weight: 209

Shoots: Left

2012-13 Team: Bridgeport Sound Tigers (AHL)

Acquired: Traded from NYI on 6/30/13

Previous Rank: NR

Yes, Nino is considered a prospect and yes, he is the third best prospect in the system.

Top 10 Prospects: #4 Matt Dumba

Matt Dumba

Defenseman

Born: July 25, 1994

Height: 6'0" Weight: 181 lbs

Shoots: Right

2012-13 Team: Red Deer (CHL)/Houston (AHL)

Acquired: 1st round pick (7th overall) in 2012 NHL Draft

Previous Rank: 7

When the Wild drafted Matt Dumba, it was a bit of a stretch to draft him over notable d-men Jacob Trouba, Derrick Pouliot and forward Filip Forsberg. But Chuck Fletcher liked what he saw from Dumba and took the Red Deer star with the 7th overall pick.

Top 10 Prospects: #5 Darcy Kuemper

Darcy Kuemper

Goaltender

Born: May 5th, 1990

Height: 6'4" Weight: 196 lbs

Shoots: Left

2012-13 Team: Houston (AHL)/Minnesota (NHL)

Acquired: 6th Round Pick (161st overall) in the 2009 NHL Draft

Previous Rank: NR

Entering last season, Darcy Kuemper was the 4th goalie on the Wild's depth chart behind Niklas Backstrom, Josh Harding, and Matt Hackett. After Harding went down and Matt Hackett was traded at the deadline (Kuemper was standing at the airport on deadline day not knowing whether he was traded or being called up), it was Kuemper who found himself suddenly in the second slot on that depth chart.

Top 10 Prospects: #6 Erik Haula

Erik Haula

Forward

Born: March 23, 1991

Height: 5'11" Weight: 192

Shoots: Left

2012-13 Team: University of Minnesota (WCHA)/Houston (AHL)

Acquired: 7th round pick (182nd overall) in the 2009 NHL Draft

Previous Rank: NR

Erik Haula needs no introduction to this state.